Technique 1 – Components in an (Argumentative, Factual & Expository) Essay

An essay must contain: introduction body/content conclusion

An essay must have at least 5 paragraphs: 1 for the introduction and 1 for the conclusion At least 3 for the content

For the content, each paragraph must have 1 main idea and its elaboration/supporting details.The basic skills to elaborate the main idea are using “wh-“questions like what, why, who, when, how and giving some examples.

Example:Main idea: I like to eat bananas.

1) Ask yourself, why you like eating bananas?Answer: They are tasty and their skins are easy to be peeled off.2) Ask yourself, how much you like bananas?Answer: Everyday, I must eat at least three bananas, that is, one after breakfast; one after lunch; and one after dinner. (The phrases in italics are examples)

Hence, when you write in a paragraph:I like to eat bananas. It is because they are tasty and their skins are easy to be

peeled off. Everyday, I must eat at least three bananas, that is, one after breakfast; one after lunch; and one after dinner.

Reinforcement ExerciseElaborate the following main ideas: 1. Smoking is hazardous to health.

2. Deforestation can cause global warming.

3. Recycling is important to save our mother earth.

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Technique 2 – Components in a Story (Narrative Writing)

A story is also composed of 3 parts: Beginning Event/Climax Ending

In SPM narrative writing, the questions are mostly stated in either:1) Write a story that begins with…/Write a story beginning with…

OR

2) Write a story that ends with…/Write a story ending with…

Sometimes, the questions are given like “an embarrassing experience” and “a memorable camping trip”.

For every paragraph including the beginning, climax, and ending, make sure that every paragraph has only 1 focus. In other words, in one paragraph, you can only mention about one particular event.

For example:

A ray of warm sunlight hit my face and birds started to chirp happily. My heavy eyelids slowly opened. I woke up and got down from my bed vulnerably and lazily, stretching my body and giving a lazy yawn. I went towards the window and opened it. Wow, what a wonderful morning!(The focus is that morning came. Before the sentence “wow, what a wonderful morning!” all the sentences are used to emphasize that morning was here.)

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Technique 3 – Sentence Structures

In an essay, it must have a variety of sentence structures. Without it, the essay will become flat in tone and dull.

Basically, there are 3 kinds of sentence structures:1) Simple sentence2) Compound sentence3) Complex sentence

Simple sentenceExamples:

I like to eat bananas. Water is important to humans.

Compound sentenceExamples:

I like to eat bananas because they are tasty. Water is important to humans as their bodies contain 70% of water.

Complex sentenceExamples:

I like to eat bananas, which are sold at markets rather than malls, because they are fresher and tastier.

Water is important to humans as their bodies contain 70% of water, so they have to drink at least eight glasses of water everyday to maintain the amount of water in their bodies.

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Technique 4 - Cohesiveness

The flow of an essay is very important as it will make the essay lively and sound better. This can be done by using conjunctions, logical and sequence connectors.

ConjunctionsConjunctions are used to join phrases or sentences together and hence to form compound sentences.

Conjunctions Usage Exampleandalsoas well asnot only…but also

To show things of similarfunctional value

butyetstill

To show contrast

althoughthougheven thougheven if

To show concession

oreither…oror else

To indicate alternatives

becauseassince

To show reason

thatso thatin order to

To indicate purpose

aswhenwhilesince

To express time

ifunless

To indicate condition

wherewherever

To indicate place

soso that

To indicate result

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Logical ConnectorsLogical connectors are used to link sentences which follow a logical order. Hence, use them appropriately.

Logical Connectors Usage ExampleAs a resultConsequentlyThusHenceTherefore

To show connection betweenactions and consequences

HoweverNeverthelessNonethelessOn the other hand

To show contrasting ideas

BesidesIn additionFurthermore/FurtherMoreover

To introduce a new idea orprovide extra information

Similarly To introduce a similar idea

Sequence ConnectorsSequence connectors are used to link sentences which follow a sequence of events. They are best used when you are writing essays like speeches, argumentative, factual and expository writing, etc. They are the essays that require different points, so sequence connectors can be used to help you arrange your points systematically and accordingly.

Sequence Connectors ExampleFirst/Firstly, Next, Then, After, After that,Later, Until, Before, Subsequently, Afterwards,Finally, Meanwhile, Eventually

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